First look: Ford unveils 2013 F-150 pickup truck

DEARBORN, MI- Ford Motor Co. Monday unveiled its 2013 Ford F-150 with some upgrades and a new Limited luxury edition.

The vehicle, a part of the Dearborn-based automaker’s best-selling line of pickups in America, features a new front-end design, interior updates and advanced technologies such as MyFord Touch with voice-activated driver controls and available high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.

The new luxury version will be available with electronic-locking rear axle and Hill Descent Control.

“Like our hardworking customers, Ford is committed to getting the job done right with our industry-leading trucks,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, in a statement. “The 2013 F-150 demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving our trucks with new features and capabilities, allowing F-Series owners to be increasingly productive.”

The vehicle was unveiled in Bruceville, Texas with Future Farmers of America (FFA) members, alumni and educators. For the 2011-12 academic year, the Built Ford Tough Scholarship Program and 285 participating Ford dealers awarded a total of 540 individual $1,000 grants for post-secondary education.

Now in its 15th year, the Built Ford Tough Scholarship Program, the Ford Fund, and participating Ford dealers have awarded $7.1 million in grants.

“Farm families have always represented an important F-Series truck constituency,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager and FFA sponsor board member, in a statement. “For these multitasking customers, a Ford pickup means family transportation, economic livelihood, rugged capability and reliability. Like FFA, Ford pickups are an enduring agricultural tradition, and we are delighted to join forces with them to reveal the new F-150 models.”